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Apple Refuses Return of iPhone

Posted Wed August 15, 2007 12:00 pm, by Peter K. written to Apple Computer Inc

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My wife and I, being loyal Apple customers, could not wait to purchase the new iPhone. I waited long hours on a long line in order to purchase our two phones. When we were near the head of the line we were told that only the 4GB model was available. Not knowing when they would be readily available we purchased two 4GB models. Upon opening mine, mu wife decided that she really, really needed the 8GB version. Since there were none to be had we waited patiently for several days, going to your retail stores webpage checking on availability and finding none. We finally left on a business trip with only the one iPhone, the other remaining home in it's sealed, unopened pristine state. Several days into our trip we stopped at an AT&T store, on a whim, and lo and behold, they just happened to have an 8GB model available. My wife continued on to LA while I returned home. Before my wife could return home to Florida her uncle passed away and she had to go to New York for the funeral. She did finally return home, exhausted, and only for a day before heading to Dallas for yet another business trip. In all, in the 30 days since the purchase she has been home for all of 3 days. We had been under the assumption that we had 30 days within which to return the device, subject to a restocking fee. When we finally did attempt to return the phone we were told that we could not, since the 14 day deadline had passed I think this is grossly unfair and believe that there must, or should, be some way to resolve this issue. It is not as if we did not want the phone or changed our minds, it's just that we bought the additional phone with the intention of basically exchanging it. When I called and finally went to the AT&T store where we bought the original phones they initially had said that although we could not get a refund we could get a credit, to be applied to our future bills. This was acceptable to us, but they later reneged on their promise. I am hoping that there is something that can be done to salvage our relationship. I have often spoken to my friends and employees, extolling the virtues of your products and customer service, and now is your chance to prove it.

Refund our money or issue a "store credit".


Reply



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by Thomas Rowbottom Posted Tue February 12, 2008 @ 11:55 PM

You bought the phone from a ATT store. How is that Apples issue? Apple
sales the phones to ATT. If ATT doesnt accept them afterwards, how is
that Apples fault? It is not ATT's or Apples fault that you did not
read the return policy, regardless of your circumstances. They run a
business. Being a business man, you should know how it works.

Why would you go out of your way to buy a phone with the intentions of
returning it in the first place? Thats illogical at best. That makes
no sense at all to me. I think there is something in this story you
are not telling.

So to recap, its your fault you didnt read the return policy, its your
fault you bought the phone with no intention to use it and its your
fault that you cant return the phone. Dont place blame on others
because of your mistake.

Reply
by T. H.M. Posted Fri August 17, 2007 @ 12:28 AM

Just put the phone that's still sealed on Ebay. I'm sure they'll be
plenty of folks willing to buy it.

Reply
by S. Brown Posted Thu August 16, 2007 @ 12:53 PM

Your wife knew when you bought two 4GB phones that she "really,
really" needed the 8GB - - right?

What does your receipt for the 4GB phones say in terms of their return
policy? I'll bet somewhere it says you have 14 days - - not 30 - -
and there is no provision for all the unfortunately delays you
describe (including the fact your wife was "exhausted" upon her return
from Florida).

14 days is 14 days - - Apple doesn't have to prove anything to you.
In fact, this letter should have been written to AT&T in the first
place.

If you "bought the additional phone with the intention of exchanging
it" then it stands to reason that you should have made sure you
clearly understood the return/exchange policy, including the time
limit.

Nice try.

Reply


by sarahd Posted Thu August 16, 2007 @ 11:38 AM

You stated that you returned home while your wife continued on to LA,
NY and then to Dallas...why oh why couldn't you return the phone while
you were home?

I also don't understand, why when you realized your wife "couldn't
live without a 8GB iphone" you didn't return the 4GB right then and
there? That way someone else who wanted that phone could have
purchased it and you wouldn't be stuck with a phone you didn't want.


I agree with everyone else, a 14 day policy is a 14 day policy. I
just purchased a phone and it clearly states on my receipt the return
policy and all the stipulations.

Reply

by MA Loper Posted Thu August 16, 2007 @ 11:06 AM

Can someone PLEASE explain to me how an inability to take
responsibility for one's onw choices and actions somehow results in a
company providing "poor customer service."

Regardless of your circumstances and your laundry list of
interruptions - this is NOT something Apple or AT&T did wrong. Plenty
of people couldn't even get one and your greedy butt has THREE??

Bottom line, you CHOSE to buy the thing, you CHOSE to be too busy with
other events and places instead of returning it in a timely manner.
How is ANY of that Apple's fault?

If I were you, I'd get that thing up on eBay. With the feeding frenzy
over them right now you'll probably double your money anyhow.

Reply

I second that motion, put it on EBAY!! by robinbird Thu August 16, 2007 @ 5:00 PM

This is the problem by rickrooney Thu August 16, 2007 @ 7:10 PM
by JuliePie Posted Thu August 16, 2007 @ 10:57 AM

I noticed that the letter is written to Apple, but you purchased the
phone at your AT&T store.

I believe you should be writing this letter to AT&T. They are the ones
who sold you the phone and won't take it back.

Regardless, your 14 days are up, so I don't think they'll take it back
anyway. But you should at least write to the right company.

Reply


by Quasi_Mondo Posted Thu August 16, 2007 @ 9:44 AM

"I have often spoken to my friends and employees, extolling the
virtues of your products and customer service..."

So what's changed?
Oh, right.
You dropped the ball and now expect Apple to atone for your mistakes.


Reply

by Jeffrey Posted Thu August 16, 2007 @ 8:56 AM

What I don't understand is why you bought a phone that you didn't
want. If you knew full well that you were not going to open the 4GB
model and would be exchanging it later for an 8GB model, why buy it in
the first place?

Or, were you thinking that you'd wait a certain number of days and
then, if you couldn't find the 8GB model, you'd just keep the 4GB
model?

Let's take a look at what you wrote:

"Not knowing when they would be readily available we purchased two 4GB
models."

"Upon opening mine, mu wife decided that she really, really needed the
8GB version."

Oh, wait... So you wife didn't make the decision that should couldn't
live with the 4GB until you opened yours? So, when you made the
purchase, she was planning on going with the 4GB model she purchase?

"It is not as if we did not want the phone or changed our minds, it's
just that we bought the additional phone with the intention of
basically exchanging it."

Which is it? Did you wife change her mind (from "I prefer 8GB, but
can live with 4GB" to "I can't live with the 8GB model") or not?

If you had the intention, all along, to simply exchange it... then why
bother buying it? Given that you purchased it with the intention of
exchanging it WHEN THE 8GB MODEL WAS AVAILABLE, it sure sounds like
you were thinking "I have forever to make the exchange." What if no
8GB model was available for months? And if you were certain that an
8GB model would be available in only 30 days, then I can't see why
you'd bother to buy one. Just wait the 30 days.

Regardless, I have to ask: does the store have a posted policy? Is it
written on the receipt?

Reply
by Angelic Princess:) Posted Wed August 15, 2007 @ 10:19 PM

Places don't care if something happened suddenly. You passed the 14
days. You ASSUMED it was 30 days. NEVER EVER assume anything,
especially with an item that expensive. You learned your lesson.

Reply


by Venice Posted Wed August 15, 2007 @ 7:13 PM

Just curious... why do you think it's "grossly unfair" that you could
not return the phone after the 14-day return period? Do you think
there should be a separate policy for people with extenuating
circumstances?

Reply

by Bill R Posted Wed August 15, 2007 @ 7:03 PM

Peter K.,
The time limit expired.
You might want to try selling it on eBay.
I just looked and there are a gaggle of them but you might get lucky.
Good luck.
BillR.

Reply

by Adam Drelles Posted Wed August 15, 2007 @ 5:42 PM

I sympathize with you, however, the policy requires you return the
phone within 14 days. You failed to do so. It does not say, return
under 14 days, unless relatives pass away, or you have to go to work.
The policy is a policy, and you signed on the dotted line. There is
nothing they can or most likely will do for you.

Reply




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